I was at Amazon for 10.5 years working as an engineer and then moving into leadership roles.
I didn’t exit for a new opportunity so much as my sanity.
My personal relationships, mental and physical health, all took a heavy hit.
I stuck around for the money. I held my initial stock vests until 2019, skipping the whole “eggs in one basket” advice. I then sold half my equity, and then I sold my 2020 and 2021 grants at almost close to the top.
I don’t have to work for a while, and my spouse earns enough for me to stay at home until I’m bored, without selling any investments. Financially we’re completely secured now.
I almost lost my spouse. I practically had no friends or life by the time I left. I’d worked so hard and so long but lost focus on myself, my family, and any notion of enjoying life.
I wish I started a family sooner. I wish I kept in close touch with siblings. I wish I’d been closer with my parents, especially when my dad was still alive.
The biggest opportunity that I missed again and again is realizing no piece of shit company, no matter how much they pay you, or whatever title they give you, is worth throwing away your life for. Amazon was a hell hole. It still is a hell hole, but it’s not my problem anymore.
While I sympathize this is still a lot better than working your life away for some random no-name company and get paid peanuts and not even have the option to move out of that.
I'm mostly talking EU here because making peanuts barely applies for any US job but in the end I'm a Sr Dev and still barely have time to have friends/spouse while struggling to have any savings and living in HCOL.
I'd say count your blessings, it can always be worse.
Surely you would have no need to do anything for money ever anymore? That sounds like an amazing freedom to have. Although, used incorrectly, it could make one feel rather useless too I suppose.
I didn’t exit for a new opportunity so much as my sanity.
My personal relationships, mental and physical health, all took a heavy hit.
I stuck around for the money. I held my initial stock vests until 2019, skipping the whole “eggs in one basket” advice. I then sold half my equity, and then I sold my 2020 and 2021 grants at almost close to the top.
I don’t have to work for a while, and my spouse earns enough for me to stay at home until I’m bored, without selling any investments. Financially we’re completely secured now.
I almost lost my spouse. I practically had no friends or life by the time I left. I’d worked so hard and so long but lost focus on myself, my family, and any notion of enjoying life.
I wish I started a family sooner. I wish I kept in close touch with siblings. I wish I’d been closer with my parents, especially when my dad was still alive.
The biggest opportunity that I missed again and again is realizing no piece of shit company, no matter how much they pay you, or whatever title they give you, is worth throwing away your life for. Amazon was a hell hole. It still is a hell hole, but it’s not my problem anymore.